Playing with Fire Concert Artists’ Bios / Websites/ Videos

Saturday / July 15

Headliner

Aynsley Lister

When explosive natural ability collides with fiery, emotionally charged compositions, the result is Aynsley Lister–an incredible guitarist whose brand of blues‐based rock delivers contemporary song writing fueled with the kind of heart and soul that’s missing from so much modern music. His album Equilibrium exposed Lister in his best ever form and stormed into Classic Rock’s Top 50 Albums of 2009. Aynsley then played to sold out shows to over 16,000 people while opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd. Shortly after, he and his band nailed their high‐octane live set to produce the storming Tower Sessions record, voted Best Live Album in the 2011 Blues Matters Writers Poll. After a 2017 live show, Colin Plumb of Devil’s Gate Media affirmed that between his songwriting and phenomenal guitar chops, he’s “a UK combination of John Mayer and Joe Bonamassa.” Of Lister’s Oct. 2016 release, Eyes Wide Open, Blues Rock Review calls, “another amazing notch added to the well‐worn blues belt of growing British blues legend, Aynsley Lister.”

Supporting Act

Ben Poole

Playing blues‐infused with rock, the UK’s Ben Poole is an internationally‐known guitar slinger who can count Jeff Beck, Gary Moore and John Mayall as his heroes and his fans, as well as showmen with whom he has jammed on stage. No longer a ‘newcomer, Poole returns to Playing with Fire a seasoned performer who has played show and music festivals worldwide. His list of accolades includes being runner up as Best Guitar Player in the 2013 British Blues Awards, his selection to represent the UK at the 2012 European Blues Challenge in Berlin, placing 3rd of 19 world‐class entries from 19 countries, and his Best Newcomer status from readers in a 2012 Blues Matters magazine poll. He was also nominated for three awards, including Best Young Artist and Best Original Song at the 2011 British Blues Awards. “A fleet fingered and talented newcomer…His playing may be ferocious but he rarely sacrifices precision for it. His phrasing belies his years. Definitely one to watch.” ‐Guitarist MagazineWEBSITE: www.benpooleband.com

Supporting Act

Tommy Castro and The Painkillers

The San Francisco Chronicle colors Castro and his band’s sound as “funky Southern soul, big city blues and classic rock…silvery guitar licks that simultaneously sound familiar and fresh.” Tommy Castro, a fierce and fiery road warrior, fervently delivers his driving, blues‐soaked, soul‐ baring music to fans all over the world and returns to Omaha and Playing with Fire in 2017. Able to bring down the house with a soulful ballad and then bring fans to their feet with a blistering blues rocker, in the words of Blues Revue, “Tommy Castro can do no wrong.”

BluesEd – five minute drive

NEW THIS SUMMER AT PLAYING WITH FIRE

Saurus On The Prowl

Saurus is Coming Big and Loud!

July 14 & 15!

Performing six 30-minute shows at concerts musical breaks!

Playing with Fire is thrilled to bring our fans Saurus on the Prowl! Returned from extinction? Prehistoric creatures seem resurrected through Close‐ Act Theatre, an international troupe of artists from the Netherlands. The group’s street performance, “Saurus” brings to life 18‐ foot tall dinosaur‐like creatures through the group’s elaborate costumes and staggering stilts. Since 2004, Close Act has been bringing Saurus to audiences at festivals worldwide, performing on every continent except South America and Antarctica. In 2016, Close‐Act performed in U.S. cities such as Detroit and Ann Arbor, Michigan and Breckenridge, Colorado. The dazzling, awe‐inspiring spectacle captures the imaginations of people of all ages. The artistic directors of Close‐Act are Hesther Melief and Tonny Aerts.WEBSITE: http://closeact.com/